Butane candle



June 20, 1967 E. D. LATULIPPE BUTANE CANDLE 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed April15, 1965 FIQZ INVENTOR. EDDY D. LATULIPPE A TTORNEX June 20, 1967 E. D.LATULIPPE 3,326,021

BUTANE CANDLE Filed April 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EDDY D. LATUL/PPE .4 T TORNEX United States Patent 3,326,021 BUTANE CANDLE Eddy D.Latulippe, 700 Palisade Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 07632 Filed Apr. 15,1965, Ser. No. 448,513 Claims. (CI. 67-87) This invention relates to agas fueled candle construction, and more particularly concerns a candleconstruction having improved valve means for regulating the flow of gasto the candle tip.

Various combustible gases in liquid or gaseous form are available forfueling devices such as stoves, lamps, cigarette lighters, heaters andthe like. It has been suggested that simulated candle constructionsmight be fueled by such gases. However, the regulation of gas flow tothe candle tip presents a number of problems, particularly when thecandle flame is snuffed out or extinguished.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved gasfueled candle construction having a novel valving arrangement whichinsures a complete shut off of the gas supply at the candle tip when theflame is to be extinguished; and further, which readily lends itself toinitiating a flame by the mere application of igniting means such as aburning match to the candle tip.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a gas fueled candleconstruction of the character described, improved valve means forregulating the flow of gas to the candle tip wherein such valve means iscompact, simple in construction and does not adversely affect the normaloutward appearance of 'a candle simulating structure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved candleconstruction of the character described, which is readily fueled,ignited and snuffed out or extinguished, as desired.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a gas fueledcandle of the character described, improved gas control valve meanswhich lends itself to economical production procedures, ease of assemblyof parts, and simplified operation in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gas fueled candle constructionembodying the invention, with parts in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper burner tipportion thereof, with parts in section;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view with parts in section, showing thevalve details thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the burner tip thereof.

In accordance with the instant invention, there is provided a gas fueledcandle construction including a gas holding reservoir at the basethereof, a simulated candle body rising from the reservoir with asimulated candle tip at the upper end thereof, together with temperatureresponsive valve means within the candle tip portion which is operativeto pass gas to the tip when the same is to be ignited, and to shut offthe gas supply when the candle flame is to be snuffed out orextinguished.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, designates a gas fueled candle constructionembodying the invention. The same comprises a base member 11 formed ofwood, metal, molded plastic or the like, which may simulate a candleholder of selected exterior design. Within base member 11 is suitablymounted a container or reservoir 12 for holding a supply of liquified orpressurized combustible gas such as butane or the like. Container 12 isreplenished with gas when necessary, by way of a conventional gas3,325,021 Patented June 20, 1967 "ice inlet valve generally indicated at13, which valve is accesible from a recess 14 in bottom wall 15 of saidcontainer 12. It is understood that gas refueling cartridges of knownconstruction, not shown, may be connected to valve 13 to transfer gasfrom such cartridge to said container 12, in a manner known in the art.

The gas container 12 in base member 11 is provided with an outlet meansin the form of an externally threaded nipple 16 upstanding from acentral portion of top wall 17 of said container and in communicatingrelation therewith. The base member 11 may be formed with a centralrecess 18 to receive therein the lower end of a simulated tapered candleassembly generally indicated at 19.

Assembly 19 includes an outer, tubular shell member 20, which may beformed of wood, decorated or formed on its outer surface to simulate theoutward appearance of a conventional candle. The upper portion 21 ofshell 20 has an inverted metal thimble 22 press fitted therein, saidthimble having an annular wall portion 23 in contact with the innersurface of shell portion 22. The thimble 22 further includes a top wallportion 24 formed with a central opening 25 and a series ofcircumferentially arranged air vent openings 26, for the purposeshereinafter pointed out. The top wall portion 24 of thimble 22 may bebowed outwardly somewhat and merges at its periphery with annular edge27 of shell 20.

Gas conduit means, together with valve means therein, extends from thenipple 16, coaxially related to shell member 20, with a tip portiongenerally indicated at 28 projecting through the central opening 25 inthimble 22. Such conduit and valve means comprises small bore metaltubing 29 which is in threaded connection at its lower end with nipple16 by way of a threaded sleeve 30 and a gasket 30A. Tubing 29 extendingupwardly through shell member 20 terminates at its upper end in anexternally threaded portion 31.

A tubular valve seat member of brass or the like, generally indicated at32 is affixed to threaded portion 30 of tubing 29. Member 32 comprisesan upper externally threaded portion 32A having a central bore 33 whichis open at the upper end thereof. Bore 33 is formed at its lower endwith a conical valve seat 34 which communicates with a short boreportion 35 of reduced diameter and thereafter an enlarged bore portion36 which is internally threaded at its upper end as at 37 to receive thethreaded upper end portion 31 of tubing 29. Valve seat member 31 isformed along its lower portion with annular cooling fins 38, for thepurpose hereinafter appearing.

The tip 28 includes a tubular member generally indicated at 39 which isformed with a gas passage 40, an internal-1y threaded ferrule 41 at thelower end thereof, for threaded engagement with the threaded portion 32Aof valve seat member 31, a gasket 42 making a gas tight connectiontherebetween. The member 39 includes at its upper end, a portion 43 ofsomewhat reduced outer diameter with a short passage 44 also of reduceddiameter and in communication with bore 40. The wall of sleeve portion43 is formed with transverse gas outlet vents 45 which communicate withpassage 44.

A sleeve member 46 of tubular shape and having a tapered upper portion47, is mounted about tubular member 39 and connected thereto byinterengaged threaded portions 48, 49. The tapered upper portion 47forms an annular gas passage with respect to tubular portion 43 and areduced diameter, internally threaded extension portion 50 whichprojects through the upper edge 51 of sleeve portion 47.

A small diameter elongated valve stem 52 is coaxially mounted withintubular member 39, being adjustably fixed in respect to said member bythreaded interengagement of the upper end portion 53 of said valve stemand internal threads 54 on extension portion 50. The upper end 55 ofsaid valve stem 52 terminates short of the upper end of extension 50, across slot 56 in stem end 55 permitting adjustment of the longitudinalposition of valve stem 52 in relation to members 39 and 31. A set screw57 with a cross slot 58, threaded into the upper end of extension 50serves to lock valve stem 50 in a selected position.

A conical valve member 59 is secured to the lower end of valve stem 52for movement toward and away from valve seat 34, as hereinafterdescribed.

The valve stem 52 is formed from a metal or alloy different from thatfrom which tubular member 39 and sleeve 46 are formed, so that therewill be different heat expansion ooeflicients. Thus, member 39 andsleeve 46 are formed of aluminum, whereas valve stem 52 is formed fromstainless steel.

In the original assembly of the parts forming the tip assembly, thenormal position of valve member 59 is in tight engagement with seat 34,thus closing communication between container 11 by way of nipple 16, andgas passage 40. When candle 19 is to be ignited, a flame, as from amatch or the like, is held immediately adjacent the sleeve portion 47thereby rapidly raising the temperature thereof and of tubular member39, as well as that of the valve stem 52.

The differential heat expansion of aluminum members 39, 46 and stem 52will be effective to lift valve member 59 off valve seat 34, asindicated in dotted lines, FIG. 3, to thus allow the passage of gas fromcontainer 12 by way of nipple 16 to tubing 29, by way of passage 40, andthence to passage 44 and outwardly through vents 45 to form an annularflow of gas issuing from annular passage 60 between sleeve edge 51 andextension portion 50, the gas then being ignited and thus giving theappearance of a conventional candle.

The flame produced by candle 10, may be adjusted by removing set screw57, to allow the valve stem 52 to be turned by a suitable tool appliedto slot 56 thereof, while the sleeve 46 and member 39 is in a heatedcondition, thus setting the spacing between valve member 59 and seat 34.The set screw 57 is then replaced and turned into tight engagement withvalve stem 52.

When the flame from candle is to be extinguished, the same may besnuffed out or blown out. The members 39, 46 cool rapidly "and therebycontract to their normal condition, which in turn moves valve member 59back into tight engagement with seat 34, to close off the gas supply viatubing 29 to gas passage 40. It follows, that the gas supply isautomatically shut off in response to extinguishment of the flame whichleads to cooling of the metal parts. Since the metal parts of tipassembly 28 are heated during the burning of candle 10, the air betweenshell and the tip assembly moving toward vents 26 is cooled by fins 38,as the same passes outwardly of vents 26.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed without departing from the spirit thereof, it isunderstood that all matter shown or described herein shall be deemedillustrative and made by way of limitation except as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas fueled candle construction comprising a gas container, tubingextending upwardly from said container with its bore in communicationwith said container, a valve seat means mounted on the upper end of saidtubing, a tubular member mounted on said valve seat member andupstanding therefrom, a sleeve member mounted on the upper end of saidtubular member, said tubular member including an extension portionextending from the upper end thereof, said tubular member having gasvents at the juncture of the upper end thereof and said extensionportion, valve stem means fixed at the upper end thereof in saidextension portion and passing coaxially of said tubular member into theupper bore portion of said seat member, and a valve member at the 5lower end of said valve stem arranged for movement toward and away fromthe seat portion of said seat member, the upper portion of said sleevemember and opposed portions of the upper portion of said tubular memberand the extension portion thereof forming an annular out-let for gasissuing from said vents, said valve stem being formed of a metal havinga thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the metal fromwhich said tubular member and sleeve member are formed and said valvemember being movable to an open position relative to said seat member inresponse to the differential thermal expansion of said valve stem andseat member.

2. A gas fueled candle construction comprising a base member and atubular she-ll member upstanding from said base member, gas containermeans within said base member, and a fuel passage assembly within saidshell member, said assembly comprising a tubular conduit extendingupwardly from said container and in communication therewith, a tubularseat member comprising longitudinally related bore portions with a seatportion at the juncture of said bore portion, means for connecting theupper end of said conduit with the lower bore portion of said seatmember, a tubular member having a first bore portion, a second enlargedbore portion extending from the lower end of said first bore portion,the other upper bore portion of said seat member being received in theenlarged bore portion of said tubular member, said tubular memberincluding an extension portion extending upwardly from said first boreportion, a valve stem coaxially disposed in the first bore portion ofsaid tubular member with the upper end thereof fixed in said extensionportion, a valve member on the lower end of said valve stem for engagingthe seat portion of said seat member, a sleeve member mounted on saidtubular member, said sleeve member having a tapered upper portionenclosing an upper portion of said tubular member and a lower portion ofsaid extension portion, gas vent means in said upper portion of saidtubular member, the upper edge of said tapered portion of said sleevemember and opposed portions of said extension portion forming an annulargas passage therebetween, said valve stem being formed of a metal havinga thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the metal fromwhich said tubular member ,and sleeve member are formed and said valvemember being movable to an open position relative to said seat member inresponse to the differential thermal expansion of said valve stem andseat member.

3. A candle construction as in claim 2 wherein said valve stem isadjustable longitudinally relative to said tubular member to adjust thespacing between said valve member and said valve seat upon differentialthermal expansion of said valve stem and tubular and sleeve members atelevated temperatures.

4. A candle construction as in claim 3 and further including means forlocking said valve stem in a selected position thereof.

5. A candle construction as in claim 2 wherein said tubular member andsleeve member is formed of aluminum and said valve stem is formed ofstainless steel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,733 6/1956 Smith et al.6787 70 3,252,308 5/1966 Goddard 67-116 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,037 4/1894Great Britain.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

1. A GAS FUELED CANDLE CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A GAS CONTAINER, TUBINGEXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID CONTAINER WITH ITS BORE IN COMMUNICATIONWITH SAID CONTAINER, A VALUE SEAT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAIDTUBING, A TUBULAR MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID VALVE SEAT MEMBER ANDUPSTANDING THEREFROM, A SLEEVE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE UPPER END OF SAIDTUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER INCLUDING AN EXTENSION PORTIONEXTENDING FROM THE UPPER END THEREOF, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING GASVENTS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE UPPER END THEREOF AND SAID EXTENSIONPORTION, VALVE STEM MEANS FIXED AT THE UPPER END THEREOF IN SAIDEXTENSION PORTION AND PASSING COAXIALLY OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER INTO THEUPPER BORE PORTION OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, AND A VALVE MEMBER AT THE LOWEREND OF SAID VALVE STEM ARRANGED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THESEAT PORTION OF SAID SEAT MEMBER, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID SLEEVEMEMBER AND OPPOSED PORTIONS OF THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERAND THE EXTENSION PORTION THEREOF FORMING AN ANNULAR OUTLET FOR GASISSUING FROM SAID VENTS, SAID VALVE STEM BEING FORMED OF A MEATAL HAVINGA THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENT DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE METAL FROMWHICH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND SLEEVE MEMBER ARE FORMED AND SAID VALVEMEMBER BEING MOVABLE TO AN OPEN POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT MEMBER INRESPONSE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL EXPANSION OF SAID VALVE STEM ANDSEAT MEMBER.